Hey travelers, Marcin Wasilewski in Venice at Teatro La Fenice? Yes, that's the date, 17th October 2026.
Marcin Wasilewski - the Polish jazz pianist & composer - has had his trio going strong for over 30 years with the same personnel & its fitting they regularly play in Venice. The city's old buildings and the acoustics along the canals make it one of their favourite European venues to perform in.
This article (by Venice Insider Guide) maps every confirmed Venice appearance, the venues that hosted them, and what listeners can expect from the upcoming 2026 concerts at Teatro La Fenice.
Marcin Wasilewski in Venice at Teatro La Fenice on 17th October 2026
Marcin Wasilewski's trio are taking their Polish jazz to Venice, with select concerts at places like Teatro Toniolo (2021, with Joe Lovano) and the Sale Apollinee at Teatro La Fenice (where they're scheduled to play on 17th October 2026).
The historic theatres in Venice really suit the trio's beautiful, melodic sound, which is reminiscent of ECM -style jazz. High ceilings, natural reverb & wood interiors all help to bring out the quiet dynamics & clarity of their playing.
The trio's story is pretty amazing, with collaborations with Tomasz Stanko, Joe Lovano & connections to ECM Records which has artists like Charles Lloyd - so they're well and truly among the top European jazz acts, regularly appearing at festivals on the continent.
Their Venice shows are tied in with album releases: the 2021 show drew from the Arctic Riff repertoire, while the 2026 dates will feature music from En attendant.
Venice isn't a regular stop for the trio, but its one they like to visit. They're tied into the Venetian Jazz Festival Fall Edition programme and Veneto Jazz, rather than having a annual residency.
Marcin Wasilewski Trio: a Behind the Scenes Look
Marcin Wasilewski, born in Sławno in 1975, has headed the Marcin Wasilewski Trio - one of Poland's leading jazz groups - that's got international recognition from critics & festival programmers all over the world. He's been a talented pianist since he was a teenager, when he started playing alongside bassist Sławomir Kurkiewicz at 15. As kids at music high school, he, Kurkiewicz & drummer Michał Miśkiewicz started playing together & formed what would become one of the most unique & enduring jazz formations in Europe.
Their career in awards alone speaks to their recognition. Marcin Wasilewski won the 2001 FRYDERYK Award for Jazz Album of the Year. He received the 2005 FRYDERYK Award for Jazz Artist of the Year. He got the 2016 GRAND PRIX JAZZ MELOMANI Artist of the Year. In 2019, he won the FRYDERYK Award for Jazz Artist of the Year again. And in 2022, he was awarded the German Jazz Award for Band of the Year, showing the trio's reputation extends way beyond Poland.
The trio's journey has also included collaborations that have opened up doors worldwide. In 2001, Tomasz Stanko invited them to join his working band, and they appeared on his ECM albums Soul of Things, Suspended Night, and Lontano. Their work with Joe Lovano on Arctic Riff linked them up with American jazz audiences. These partnerships, alongside their connections to ECM label friends like Charles Lloyd, have helped position the trio on major European festival stages. & Venice was a pretty obvious next step.
Marcin Wasilewski in Venice 2026: What to Expect from the Venetian Concert Highlights & Festival Appearances
Venice has become more than a one-off visit for the Marcin Wasilewski Trio. They've got a regular place on the European jazz festival circuit & Venice is one of their stops. After the 2021 show at Teatro Toniolo, the city invited them to come back.
The Marcin Wasilewski Trio in Venice are booked to play at the Venezia Jazz Festival Fall Edition on 17th October 2026 in the Sale Apollinee part of Teatro La Fenice. This show confirms Teatro La Fenice's commitment to showcasing the trio. The Venezia Jazz Festival Fall Edition is all about presenting contemporary jazz in Venice, and the trio's inclusion in the 2026 programme puts them alongside a lot of the great artists the festival regularly books.The upcoming concert takes place at 7pm and there's also a second show lined up at 9pm. Tickets cost €34 for an unreserved numbered seat - it's worth noting that's the price, no extras to worry about. The Marcin Wasilewski trio in Venice will be showcasing their deep musicality & improvisational freedom, with a focus on material from their album En attendant.
You may know Marcin Wasilewski's album En attendant picked up the Jazz Album of the Year award at the 2022 FRYDERYK ceremony. The album was released on January 28th 2022, ECM catalogue number 2677 - it's a real standout title for the label. The album itself is a mixed bag - you'll find covers of The Doors & Bach sitting alongside Carla Bley compositions and group improvisations. In Venice, audiences should expect these pieces to really open up in the live setting - with longer improvisations and dynamics that get a real boost from the Sale Apollinee's unique acoustics. When the album came out, it marked a bit of a shift for Wasilewski, away from more traditional jazz sounds & towards a more overt storytelling approach using non-jazz material. The result was adapted with the trio's signature patience and harmonic depth.
FAQ
Do the Marcin Wasilewski Trio have a live album recorded in Venice?
No - at least, not officially. As of October 2026, there's no live album from Venice that's been officially released. The trio's only live album, Live (2018) was recorded at the Jazz Middelheim Festival in Antwerp in August 2016. Venice concerts have remained undocumented in the trio's official discography, though you can probably find some stuff that's not been officially released out there in the world of bootlegs.
How often does Marcin Wasilewski perform in Venice?
Venice is more of an occasional stop for the trio - they're not on a fixed schedule. You can confirm appearances like the Arctic Riff concert with Joe Lovano in 2021 or the two shows that are lined up at the Sale Apollinee on 17 October 2026. The trio bumped onto the Venice circuit through the Veneto Jazz festival, and the invitations just depend on the album release cycles & festival curation.
Where can I find information about upcoming Marcin Wasilewski concerts in Venice?
The usual places will have the latest announcements:
- ECM Records artist page for tour dates
- Teatro La Fenice event calendar for the Venice-specific listings
- Veneto Jazz / Venezia Jazz Festival website for festival programming
- TicketOne Italy for ticket availability & pricing.
- Cultural Events in the Comune di Venezia
What makes Venice such a unique place for jazz lovers ?
Venice has some amazing historical theaters like La Fenice and Teatro Toniolo which are still just as good for live music as they were back in the day because their acoustics were actually designed for the kind of music that doesn't need to be electrically amplified. So you've got these high ceilings, wooden floors and stone walls all combining to create this really beautiful reverb that rewards musicians who can play with some finesse. On top of that, Venice has this really vibrant festival culture - which is largely run by Veneto Jazz - that regularly brings on some really acclaimed ECM artists and European trios to play in the city. It also helps that Venice attracts a huge international crowd so you've got people coming from all over the world to listen who might not normally go to jazz concerts, so that's got to be good for the artists.
Can the Marcin Wasilewski Trio be a good introduction to jazz for people who don't know much about it?
Yes they can because their music is pretty melodic, gets into some good song structures and they even draw on stuff like the Doors and Bach which is going to be more relatable to someone with limited jazz knowledge. Start off with January (2008) if you're after some beautiful ballads or En attendant (2022) if you want to see them tackle a bit more of a range of covers and originals. Their studio recordings are also just really well produced so even if you don't know much about jazz it should be pretty easy to follow what each person is doing. And then when you see them live in a place like Venice, you get all the added bonus of seeing how the music translates in person - ie the visuals and the sound all coming together.
So you're set then
So you've got all this information now and you can use it to figure out how you want to plan your trip.
Just expect to see some amazing Marcin Wasilewski in Venice and consider that now you've got the information you need to get the most out of your time in the city.
Follow the Venice Insider Guide for more tips on how to make the most of your time in Venice.